Display device



Aug. 16, 1932.

W. J. DE WITT DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 12. 1931 jez/@M051 m19 M rig/.5

Patented Aug. 16, 1932 NETE@ STATES i PATENT OFFICE l j WILLIAM J. DE WITT, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SHOE` FORM CO., INC., OF

' AUBURN, NEW .YORIL A `CORPORATION OF YORK embodying one form DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed March 12,

Yto contain liquid in which articles tobe displayed a'recarried andfmcansor setting in lmotion the liquid in one or more of the compartments thus imparting movement to the articles carried thereby.

A further object of this invention is toprovideA a display device comprising a tank havinga plurality of compartments each containing liquid in which articles carried'by the liquid are given movement of translation by setting the liquid in the various channels in motion, preferably of circulation in diierent directions, sov that the moving articles willattract the attention of the passersby.

Other objects of the invention will appear from a consideration of the following specification and of the drawing which forms a part thereof and in which Y Fig. 1v is a plan view oi a display device of vthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device with parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one detail of the invention. l

ln the embodiment shown in the drawing, which was selected for illustration and not for limitation, the display device comprises `a tank 11 cylindrical in form supported upon uprights 12. Mounted on the'base 18 of the Jtank are partitions 14C whichv with the outer wall 15 divide the tank into a plurality'of compartments. The compartments of the illustrated device are four in number, designated respectively 16, 17, 18V and 19. The partitions-14 and wall15 are annular and concentric so that the compartment 16' is surrounded by annular compartments 17, 18 and 19.

The tank is partially filled with water or other liquid thus providing a central body of liquid surrounded by separate annular bodies or channels of liquid. In order to attract attention, I propose to set up a circulation of 1931. semina. sarees. I

the liquid in the compartments. In the present embodiment the liquid in compartments 16 and 18 travels in a clockwise direction and the liquidin compartments" 17 and 19 travels in a counter'clockwise direction, such directions to be indicated bythe arrows 2U in Fig. 1. The liquid may beset inv motion by any suitable means as for example a. centrifugal pump 21 driven by a motor 22 and having an intake pipe 23 and an outlet pipe 24. The intake pipe 23 is substantially Y-shaped as shown in Fig. 1, the leg 25L being connected to channels 16 and 18 and the leg 26 being connected to channels 17 and 19 through openings 27 yin the basel. The outlet pipe 24 is connected to eachl compartment through an opening 28 which, as shown in Fig. 3, is partially covered by a shield orhood 29. It will be noted that the hood 29 in each `compartment faces in the direction ofthe currentset up therein and that the opening 27 is behind the opening 28. y Y

*Inl the risersvconnecting the openings 27 and28 with the intake and outlet pipes are provided valves SObyvwhich the flow of liquid is controlled. The base 13'and wall v15 of the tank and the partitions 14 maybe of transparent, translucent or opaque material. The top of the tank '11 may be closed by a plate 31 preferably of glass orotlicr' tra-nsparent materialv or may be left open in order to permit the articles Acarried by or liquid to project above the wall 14.

This particular embodiment is intended to be used to display boats or other water craft placedfin the various compartments of the tank. Vhen the pump`21 is set into operation by the motor 22 a port-ion of the liquid in each compartment is drawn through the openings 27 to the intake pipe-23 and 'returned to the compartments by the outlet pipe v211 and openings 28. The returned liquid passing into the compartments in the direction determined by the hoods 29 will obviously keep the liquid inv motion in the desired directions. Bymeans of the valves the vamount of liquid withdrawn Afrom `and returnedto each compartment is determined and the speed of circulation regulated as desired. vThe boats in the various compartments will they bodies lUU thus be given movements of translation in the tank and will attract attention thereto.

While one embodiment of this device has been shown and described and its use in displaying boats has been mentioned, it will be understood that I am not limited to such specified embodiment and use since other embodiments and uses may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim: I

l. A display device comprising a tank having a circular wall and a plurality of partitions concentric with the wall 4to define an inner compartment and a plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner compartment land each compartmentContaining liquid and meansl for setting the liquid in the various compartments in motion.

2. A display device comprising a. tank having a circular wall and a plurality of partitions concentric with the wall to deiine an inner compartment and a plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner compartment, each compartment containing liquid, and a pump adapted to withdraw a portion of the liquid from each compartment and return liquid thereto thereby setting the liquid in the compartments in motion.

3. A display device comprising a tank having` a circular wall and a plurality of partitions concentric with the wall to define an inner compartment and a plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner com` partment, each compartment' containing liquid, a

liquid by which articles are carried and means for setting the liquid inthe compartments in circulation and thereby imparting motion to the articles carried thereby.

4. A display device comprising a tank having a circular wall andy a pluralityv of partitions concentric with the wall to deline an inner compartment and a plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner compartment, each compartment containing liquid, a pump having an intake pipe and an outlet pipe and connections between each compartments and said pipes whereby the pump withdraws a portion of the liquid from each compartment and returns liquid thereto thereby setting the liquid in the compartments in motion.

5. A display device comprising a tank having a circular wall and ak plurality of partitionsconcentric with the wall to dene an inner compartment and a plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner compartment, each compartment containing pump having an intake pipe and an outlet pipe and connections between each compartments and said pipes whereby the pump withdraws a portion of the liquid from each compartment and returns liquid thereto thereby setting the liquid in the compartthe outlet pipe connections for sending the liquid returned to the compartments in a predetermined direction.

6. A display device comprising a tank having a circular wall and a plurality of partitions concentric with the wall to deiine an inner compartment and a plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner compartment, each compartment containing liquid, a pump having an intake pipe and an outlet pipe and connections between each compartments and said pipes whereby the pump withdraws a portion of the liquid from each compartment and returns liquid thereto thereby setting the liquid in the compartmentsin motion, and means associated with the outlet pipe connections for ,sendingl the liquid returned to certain of said compartments in one direction and the liquid returned to other of said compartments in another direction. q

7. A ldisplay device comprising atank having a circular wall and a plurality of partitions concentric'with the wall to deline an inner compartment and a plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner compartment, each compartment containing liquid, a pump having an intake pipe and an outlet pipe and connections between each compartmentsfand said pipes 'whereby the pump withdraws a -portion ofthe liquid from each compartment and returns liquid thereto thereby setting the liquid in the compartments in motion, and hoods in each compartment associated withv theuoutlet pipe connections for sending theliquid returned to the compartments in a predetermined direction.

8v. A display device comprising atank having a circular wall and a plurality of partitions concentric with the wallto define an inner -compartment anda plurality of annular compartments surrounding the inner compartment, each compartment containing liquid, a pump having an intake pipe and an outlet vpipe and connections between each compartments and saidpipes whereby the pump `withdraws a portion of the liquid from each compartment and returns liquid thereto therebyV setting the liquid in the compartments in motion, and hoods in each compartment associated with the outlet pipe connections for sending the liquid returned to certain ofsaid compartments in one direction and the liquid returned to other of said compartments in another direction.

Signed by me at Auburn, N. Y., this 10th day of Mar., 1931. l

A VILLIAM J. DE WITT.

ments in motion, and means associated with 

